Rhodes College Athletics

How often is it a poor basketball shot when a player shoots inside the three-point line? Well, any shot inside 19’9” was a poor shot for Ellen Thompson. Why score two points when you could just as easily score three?

Ellen Thompson currently ranks as the most prolific three-point shooter in the history of NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball. Her name is currently listed in the Leader in three-point field goal percentage. Perhaps Ellen’s most incredible feat was her three-point shooting percentage her freshman year during the 1988-89 season. Ellen shot an amazing 60% from the three-point arc. She made 54 out of 90 three-point shots. Needless to say, she led not only Division III, but the entire nation in three-point field goal percentage during the ’89-’90 season.

Ellen also ranked number one in the nation in three-point field percentage her junior year. She was named to the WIAC and SCAC All-Conference teams her junior and senior years. She was also voted by her teammates to serve as captain for the 1990-91 and 1991-92 basketball teams. Ellen is Rhodes’ all-time leading scorer. She led the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in scoring her senior year. In addition to being named All-Conference, she was selected to the Kodak All-South Basketball Team. Perhaps her greatest honor was being selected by her teammates as the Most Valuable Player her sophomore, junior and senior years.

Described by Sarah Hatgas as “an awesome leader,” Ellen Thompson epitomizes the attributes of a great player and teammate. For her accomplishments as a player and the prestige she bestowed on her college, Rhodes is honored to induct ELLEN KAY THOMPSON to the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 7th day of October, 2005.